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accreditation and quality link: accreditation and quality control information
our history link: the proud history of RRCS
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Our History

Providing care since 1899

1899 Miss Susan Schardt, blind from birth, became aware of the accommodation needs of patients being discharged from hospital as 'incurable'. She rented a cottage in Surry Hills - the cottage eventually housed sixteen 'incurables', as well as a nurse to care for them

1901 The Governor of NSW, The Hon. Henry Rawson, became aware of the Commonwealth Home for Destitute Invalids, as it was then called, and became its patron

Weemala1905 Name changed to NSW Homes for Incurables

1906 The Governor called a meeting in the Sydney Town Hall to consider how best to expand the activities of the Home. The Hon. Henry Moses, M.L.C, offered his property in Ryde. In December, Weemala opened with 65 beds

1924 The Moorong building opened with 24 beds for patients with malignant growths - today it houses our Spinal Injury Unit

1954 Name was changed to Royal Ryde Homes

1967 The Coorabel building opened with 114 beds to provide rehabilitation services

1969 The extended and remodeled Weemala building opened with 74 additional beds, making a total of 176 beds

1973 Nine private rooms and a hydrotherapy pool were added to the Coorabel building

community integration housing1978 Name changed to Royal Ryde Rehabilitation Hospital

1979 The Community Health Care Day Centre opened. In 1991 this was relocated to the Coorabel building - Spinesafe is now housed in this area

1985 The Coorabel building extended to accommodate the Education Centre

1987 The Spinal Injury Unit opened

1989 First accredited Occupational Rehabilitation Unit started

1990 Name changed to Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney

1991 Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) Accreditation granted (three years)

1992 Motor Accidents Authority Chair of Rehabilitation Medicine appointed to University of Sydney, with professor located on site at Royal Rehabilitation Centre Sydney

1993 Weemala Community Integration Program began with the opening of two community houses

1993 Coorabel building refurbished and modernised

1994 ACHS Accreditation renewed (three years)

the computer training room1996 Orthopaedic and Neurological Units amalgamated to form the Coorabel Adult Rehabilitation Service (CARS)

1996 Affiliation with the University of Western Sydney

1997 Centre for Developmental Disability Studies established

1999 Chair of Rehabilitation nursing established in collaboration with the University of Western Sydney Nepean.
Rehabilitation Nursing Research and Development Unit opened.
Home Based Rehabilitation Service established.

2000 Centenary Celebrations marking the 100 year milestone of providing services to our community.
3 Boarding Houses opened under Community Integration Program 2001.
One transition house was opened under Community Integration Program

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